VCP-DCV vSphere Security Practice Question
A company wants to integrate vCenter Server with an external identity source to allow users to authenticate using their corporate credentials. The administrator must ensure that authentication traffic is encrypted. Which solution should the administrator implement?
⚠ Common exam trap
VCP-DCV often tests the difference between LDAP and LDAPS; candidates may pick LDAP thinking it's sufficient, but the exam requires encryption, so LDAPS is the correct choice.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Active Directory over LDAPS
Active Directory over LDAPS uses LDAP over SSL/TLS, which encrypts authentication traffic between vCenter Server and the AD domain controller. This meets the requirement for encrypted authentication. LDAPS typically uses port 636 and requires proper certificates on the domain controllers. This is the correct solution for integrating vCenter with an external identity source while ensuring encryption.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Local OS authentication on vCenter Server
Why it's wrong here
Local OS authentication uses vCenter Server's own local accounts rather than an external identity source, so it fails the corporate-credentials requirement entirely. It is tempting as a fallback for standalone deployments, but it cannot authenticate domain users or encrypt traffic to an external directory.
- ✗
Active Directory over NTLM
Why it's wrong here
NTLM authenticates against Active Directory but does not encrypt the authentication traffic itself, so it fails the stated encryption requirement. It is tempting because NTLM is a genuine Active Directory integration method for vCenter, but it would only be correct where encryption is not mandated.
- ✓
Active Directory over LDAPS
Why this is correct
LDAPS wraps LDAP authentication traffic in TLS, encrypting credentials and queries between vCenter Server and the directory. Binding to Active Directory over plain LDAP would leave authentication traffic unencrypted, so LDAPS satisfies the stated encryption requirement for the external identity source.
- ✗
Active Directory over LDAP
Why it's wrong here
Plain LDAP transmits credentials and authentication traffic unencrypted, so it fails the encryption requirement; LDAPS or Active Directory over LDAP with TLS is needed. It is tempting because LDAP integrates Active Directory identities, which is the goal, but the transport itself must be secured.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official VMware exam blueprint
This VCP-DCV practice question is part of Courseiva's free VMware certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the VCP-DCV exam.